Walid Hourani

Howrani, Waleed (b. 1948). American-born Lebanese composer, now resident in the USA, of mostly piano works that have been performed in Europe, the Middle East and North America; he is also active as a pianist.

Mr. Howrani studied piano privately with Sonia Vertabedian and Zvart Sarkisian in Beirut. He then studied harmony and theory with Salvador Arnita and solfège with Tawfiq Sukkar at the National Conservatory of Music in Beirut and piano with Oleg Ivanov at the Central Music School in Moscow, where he graduated with high honors. Next he studied piano with Emil Gilels and Yakov Zak at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow from and there earned a post-graduate degree in piano performance and teaching. He also attended masterclasses with Aram Khachaturian in Moscow, who arranged for him to study at the Central Music School and Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He later had private studies with William Albright in Michigan and attended seminars with Leslie Bassett and William Bolcom.

Among his many honors as a pianist are a Certificate of Honor at the Tchaikovsky Competition (1966), a Laureate at the International Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels (1968), the Prize of Said Akl (1968), and the Lebanese Medal of Merit (1969). He also received First Prize in the WDEQ-FM Piano Competition in Pittsburgh (1975) and the city of San Diego proclaimed Waleed Howrani Day on April 13 (1986). In addition, he earned First Prize in the Youse Adult Composers Competition of the National Federation of Music Clubs (2002, for Introduction and Fire Dance).

For his overall artistic work, he has received the True Spirit Award from the 500 Club for Lebanon in Los Angeles (1991), the Artistic Excellence Award from Wayne County in Michigan (1992), two Khalil Gibran Fine Arts Scholar awards (1992-93), and the Lebanese Medal of Cedar (1999). Most recently, the Beirut City Lions Club honored him for his accomplishments in music (2000).

As a pianist, he has performed in Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the USA. He often plays his own music and other new music, as well as many standard pieces.

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8 comments on “Walid Hourani”

DEAR WALID , THANKS TO THE INTERNET FOR BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU , I AM MOHAMAD KAMAL MEDAWAR , A FRIEND OF YOUR FATHER RAJA , I WAS HONERED ONCE BY YOUR VISIT TO MY HOUSE IN SHOUWAIFAT DURING THE PERIOD YOU WERE PREPARING FOR TCHAKIKOVSKY COMPETITION ,
THE WORK WAS ( ISALMY )…I AM 84 NOW STILL WORKING PART TIME IN MY SHIPPING BUSINESS IN SAUDI AND BEIRUT , VERY GLAD TO READ YOUR NEWS , HOPE ONE DAY I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN BEIRUT OR ENGLAND …MY BEST REAGARDS ..M K MEDAWAR

Greetings Walid,
I used to take piano lessons with Zvart Sarkissian on Al Hamra Street in her store in Beirut. One day as I was struggling with a Bach prelude and fuge, a man entered the store and conversed with Zvart for a while. I didn’t pay attention, thinking he is a customer. When he left, Zvart told me the gentleman was Emil Gilels. I was so upset that I had made a fool of myslef in the presence of such a renowned pianist that I had to take my leave almost immediately. When you gave a recital in AUB, Zvart insisted that I should attend. I was fortunate enough to hear your playing. Fantastic! It was late ’60s. Perchance I came accross this site and I am happy to share my experience with you. I live in greater Los Angeles. Will you ever be performing around this part of geography? I would be thrilled to hear from you.
Best Regards,
Isaac

Waleed, you are so welcome. Your performance was such an inspiration. I will always have that etched in my memory forever. I only wish I was at your AUB concert, January of 2008. I live in Los Angeles, California. I hope you will visit and perhaps perform here. Regards

I had the privelege to attend Waleed ‘s concert many years ago, when he graced Middle East College with his presence. I was on my way to the concert hall, Walid walked up the steps with his entourage, stopped and smiled to me, then continued up the steps. It was the most beautiful piano concert I’ve ever attended.